2006 MERCEDES-BENZ E WAGON wheel

213 Controls in detail
Dual-zone automatic climate control (USA only)
Rear passenger compartment adjustable air vents
The air conditioning for the rear passenger
compartment is controlled via the climate
control panel (
page 204).The air vents for the rear passenger
compartment are located in the rear
center console.
1Left center air vent
2Right center air vent
3Thumbwheel for air volume control for
right rear center air vent
4Thumbwheel for air volume control for
left rear center air ventAdjusting air distribution

Push the slide for the left center
vent1 or right center vent2 to the
left, right, up or down.
The air flow is directed in the corre-
sponding direction.
Adjusting air volume

Turn thumbwheel3 or4 up or down.
The air volume is increased or
decreased.
iThe temperature at the center air vents
for the rear passenger
compartment1 and2 is the same as
at the dashboard center air vents.
iFor draft-free ventilation, push
slides1 and2 upward.

215 Controls in detail
4-zone automatic climate control*
1
Thumbwheel for air volume control
for left center air vent
2
Left center air vent, adjustable
3
Cockpit air vent, fixed
4
Right center air vent, adjustable
5
Thumbwheel for air volume control
for right center air vent
6
Right side defroster vent, fixed
7
Right side air vent, adjustable
8
Thumbwheel for air volume control
for right side air vent
9
Climate control panel
a
Thumbwheel for air volume control
for left side air vent
b
Left side air vent, adjustable
c
Left side defroster vent, fixed
iFor draft-free ventilation, move the
sliders for the center air vents 2 and
4 (
page 214) to the middle posi-
tion.
1
Thumbwheel for air volume control
for side air vent
2
Side air vent, adjustable

222 Controls in detail4-zone automatic climate control*Adjusting air distribution
Use the air distribution controls1 and7
(page 216) or (
page 217) to separate-
ly adjust the air distribution on each side of
the passenger compartment.
The following symbols are located on the
controls:

Turn air distribution controls1
and7 (
page 216) or (
page 217)
on each side of the passenger compart-
ment to the desired symbol.
The indicator lamps on the
buttonsU go out. The automatic air
distribution is switched off. The air dis-
tribution is controlled according to the
selected control setting.
Opening the cockpit air vent and center
air vents

Turn thumbwheels 1 and 5
(page 214) upward.
The cockpit air vent 3 and the side air
vents 2 and 4 are open.Closing the cockpit air vent and center
air vents

Turn thumbwheels 1 and 5
(page 214) downward.
The cockpit air vent 3 and the side air
vents 2 and 4 are closed.
Opening the side air vents

Turn thumbwheels 8 and a
(page 214) upward.
The side air vents 7 and b are open.
Closing the side air vents

Turn thumbwheels 8 and a
(page 214) downward.
The side air vents 7 and b are
closed.
Symbol
Function
a
Directs air through the cock-
pit, side and rear passenger
compartment air vents
Z
Directs air to the windshield
and through the side air vents
X
Directs air into the entire vehi-
cle interior
Y
Directs air to the footwells
iYou can also turn the air distribution
control to a position between two sym-
bols.

229 Controls in detail
4-zone automatic climate control*
Rear climate control
The rear climate control is adjusted via the
front climate control panel (
page 216) or
(
page 217) or the rear climate control
panel.
The rear climate control panel is located in
the rear center console.
Setting the temperature
Use temperature control rocker
switches4 and6 to separately adjust
the air temperature on each side of the
rear passenger compartment.You should raise or lower the temperature
setting in small increments, preferably
starting at 72°F (22°C). The adjusted tem-
perature appears in the display 5. The
rear climate control will adjust to the set
temperature as fast as possible.
1Temperature, left
2Temperature, right

Adjust the temperature to the desired
setting for each side of the passenger
compartment using the left and right
temperature buttons.
The temperature in the rear passenger
compartment is adjusted automatical-
ly.
1
Left rear center air vent, adjustable
2
Right rear center air vent, adjustable
3
Thumbwheel for air volume control
for right rear center air vent
4
Temperature rocker switch, right
5
Display
6
Temperature rocker switch, left
7
Thumbwheel for air volume control
for left rear center air ventiYou can also adjust the rear tempera-
ture using the front climate control
panel (
page 216) or (
page 217).


230 Controls in detail4-zone automatic climate control*Adjusting air distribution
Push the slide for the left center
vent1 or right center vent 2
(page 229) to the left, right, up, or
down.
The air flow is directed in the
corresponding direction.
Adjusting air volume

Turn thumbwheel3 or 7
(page 229) up or down.
The air volume is increased or
decreased.Adjusting the rear settings with the
front control panel
You can adjust the temperature for the
rear climate control from the front climate
control panel.

Press button™ or 5
(page 216) or (
page 217).
The display switches over.
1Rear climate control display

Set the desired temperature for the
rear passenger compartment using
temperature rocker switches4
and6 (
page 229).
After approximately 5 seconds after
the last adjustment, the display switch-
es back to its standard display.
iThe rear climate control will not cool
the air when the air conditioning is
switched off (
page 227).
iFor draft-free ventilation, push
slides1 and 2 (
page 229) upward.
iYou can also press button™ or
5 (
page 216) or (
page 217)
once more to switch back to the stan-
dard display.


239 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Driving systems
The driving systems of your vehicle are de-
scribed on the following pages:

Cruise control and Distronic*, with
which the vehicle can maintain a preset
speed


Airmatic DC* adjusts the vehicle sus-
pension characteristics automatically
and controls the vehicle level
For information on BAS, ABS, electrohy-
draulic brake system and ESP
® driving sys-
tems, see “Driving safety systems”
(
page 91).
Cruise control
The cruise control automatically maintains
the speed you set for your vehicle.
Use of cruise control is recommended for
driving at a constant speed for extended
periods of time. You can set or resume
cruise control at any speed above 20 mph
(30 km/h).
The cruise control function is operated by
means of the cruise control lever.
The cruise control lever is the uppermost
lever on the left-hand side of the steering
column (
page 22).
Warning!
G
The cruise control is a convenience system
designed to assist the driver during vehicle
operation. The driver is and must remain at
all times responsible for the vehicle speed
and for safe brake operation.
Only use the cruise control if the road, traffic
and weather conditions make it advisable to
travel at a steady speed.

The use of cruise control can be danger-
ous on winding roads or in heavy traffic
because conditions do not allow safe
driving at a steady speed.


The use of cruise control can be danger-
ous on slippery roads. Rapid changes in
tire traction can result in wheel spin and
loss of control.


Deactivate the cruise control when driv-
ing in fog.
The “Resume” function should only be oper-
ated if the driver is fully aware of the previ-
ously set speed and wishes to resume this
particular preset speed.

244 Controls in detailDriving systems
iCanada only:
This device complies with RSS-210 of
Industry Canada. Operation is subject
to the following two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause
interference, and
(2) this device must accept any
interference received, including
interference that may cause
undesired operation of the device.
Any unauthorized modification to this
device could void the user’s authority
to operate the equipment.Warning!
G
Distronic cannot take street and traffic con-
ditions into account. Only use Distronic if
the road, weather and traffic conditions
make it advisable to travel at a steady
speed.
Warning!
G
Use of Distronic can be dangerous on slip-
pery roads. Rapid changes in tire traction
can result in wheel spin and loss of control.
Distronic does not act upon adverse sight
distance conditions. Do not use Distronic
during conditions of fog and heavy rain,
snow or sleet.
Warning!
G
Distronic cannot take weather conditions
into account. Switch off Distronic or do not
turn it on if:

roads are slippery or covered with snow
or ice. The wheels could lose traction
while braking or accelerating, and the
vehicle could skid.


the sensor is dirty or visibility is
diminished due to snow, rain or fog. The
distance control could be impaired.
Always pay attention to traffic conditions
even while Distronic is switched on. Other-
wise, you may not be able to recognize
dangerous situations until it is too late and
could cause an accident resulting in person-
al or fatal injury to you or others.

251 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Distronic deactivates automatically when

you set the parking brake


you drive slower than 20 mph
(30 km /h)


the ESP
® is active (
page 93) or you
deactivate the ESP
®


you move the gear selector lever into
positionN
A signal will sound. The
Distronic off

message appears in the multifunction
display for approximately 5 seconds.Setting the following distance in
Distronic
You can set the specified following dis-
tance for Distronic by varying the time set-
ting between 1.0 and 2.0 seconds. Using
this time setting and the current speed of
your vehicle, Distronic calculates and sets
the required following distance to the vehi-
cle ahead. The set distance will be shown
in the multifunction display.
The thumbwheel for making the time set-
ting is located on the lower section of the
center console.1Distance warning function on/off
switch
2Indicator lamp
3Thumbwheel for setting distance
Increasing distance
Increasing the distance setting tells
Distronic to maintain a greater following
distance to the vehicle ahead.

Turn thumbwheel3 towards¯.
Warning!
G
Distronic switches off and releases the
brakes when the vehicle decelerates below
the minimum speed of 20 mph (30 km/h)
by operation of the system. At that time the
driver must apply the brakes in order to re-
duce vehicle speed further or bring it to a
stop.
Warning!
G
It is up to the driver to exercise discretion to
select the appropriate setting given road
conditions, traffic, driver’s preferred driving
style and applicable laws and driving recom-
mendations for safe following distance.